4 Chapter 3

We stayed in China for close to a month. I kept telling him I was fine and ready to go, but he was too adamant, insisting I should rest more. *"For God's sake,"* I thought, *"since when did he become so caring?"* Our stay ended up being extended by a week and two days. Finally, we took a flight to the next country. He sat beside me on the plane.

*"Where are we going next?"* he asked.

*"To the Netherlands,"* I replied, pointing my finger upward.

*"Netherlands? Isn't that where Tom Holland is from?"* he said, putting his hand on his chin and looking out the window.

*"No, that's Tom Belgium. I can't believe you're this dumb,"* I shot back.

The person behind us laughed at our meaningless joke, and we laughed along, even though it wasn't that funny. He seemed totally focused on a book.

*"What are you reading?"* I asked, curious.

*"The Negritude,"* he replied.

*"What kind of book is that?"*

*"It's an African book, more like a poem. I love philosophy,"* he said, looking at the book happily.

*"I never knew you were into books,"* I admitted.

*"By the way, Natsu, I heard that people in the Netherlands are pretty damn tall,"* he said.

*"Yeah, the average man is around 184 cm,"* I replied.

*"Damn!!! Those are heights. I'm gonna bend 'em over,"* he said, demonstrating the gesture.

*"Don't get too excited. The average woman is about—"*

*"Noise!"* he interrupted, recreating the noise meme.

I looked a bit offended. *"Don't ask me anything again,"* I said.

*"I've got nothing to ask, savage princess,"* he replied, mimicking my face.

*"What did you just say?!"*

*"Nothing,"* he said, still keeping up the act.

We landed in the Netherlands with no specific plan other than to tour around the capital. The environment was lovely. We paid for a two-week stay at a hotel. I opened the room, exhausted from the long flight.

*"Andrew, you're going out?"* I asked.

*"Yeah, I want to check out some things,"* he replied.

I went down a few minutes later and saw him hitting on the receptionist. I don't know why girls always love his bad-boy looks. He was totally popular in college too. None of my business, I thought, and ignored him.

Communication wasn't much of a problem since most people spoke English, though Andrew and I tended to speak Japanese whenever it was just the two of us. I took a tour outside for over three hours and came back to the hotel around 9 p.m.

I opened the door and was surprised to find him inside.

*"This isn't like you,"* I said.

*"Yeah, babe, for one fucking reason I can't find an evangelist. Everyone here is almost a saint,"* he said, clearly disappointed.

*"What about that receptionist you were talking to earlier?"*

*"Don't mind her. She took me to the laundry room. I was expecting something interesting, but in a nutshell, she scammed me out of 500 euros for a kiss."*

*"Good for you,"* I said, feeling a bit satisfied. *"Screw it. No evangelist. If I could meet one, I might know the runs of the town."*

The next day, he laid down on his bed watching anime.

*"Which anime are you watching?"* I asked.

*"One Piece,"* he replied.

*"Which arc?"*

*"Punk Hazard."*

*"Okay, later. I'm on my way out."*

*"Natsu, ya, get out of my sight,"* he said, copying a character from the anime. He loved doing that—imitating characters from whatever anime he was watching. I guessed it was Law this time.

The stay had been interesting for me but not for him. I stayed outside for a while, and this routine went on for about a week. Maybe I should keep him company this time, I thought, since I had almost spent all the money we converted.

I talked to him for a while, but the conversation was too boring. I guess he couldn't live without his usual antics.

*"I wish I could have a snack right now,"* I said.

A knock came at the door. It was one of the hotel workers.

*"How may I help you?"* I asked.

*"I'm sorry, but someone is looking for your boyfriend downstairs,"* she said.

*"My boyfriend?!"* I replied, shocked.

*"That's all. Enjoy your stay,"* she said, then left.

After hearing this, Andrew immediately jumped off the bed, recharged with energy. He quickly put on his clothes and pants.

*"Did something happen?"* I asked.

*"No, I told one guy this hotel location in case he saw an evangelist. Him coming is good news,"* he said.

He was about to pick up the cash on the table, but we touched it at the same time.

*"Let go of it,"* he said, pulling the cash out of my hand, but I didn't budge.

*"Jutsu contest,"* I proposed, referencing a game we used to play in situations like this.

*"You're begging for it, girl. Fine by me,"* he said.

*"I'll go first!"* he yelled.

*"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"*

*"Water Style: Raging Waves!"* I countered, doing the hand signs.

*"Not bad,"* he said, closing one eye. *"Amaterasu!"*

*"Shinra Tensei!"* I defended.

*"Don't worry, it's gonna be over quickly. Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!"*

*"Kamui!"*

*"Damn, you're persistent. I'll give you this—Bijuu Mode: Kurama!"*

*"Time for my own attack. Take this—Kotoamatsukami!"*

He stood still for a few seconds, as if he could hear birds flapping their wings, then fell to his feet. The match was already decided. I picked up the cash and was about to go out when he started rolling on the floor, as he always did whenever he lost to me.

*"Silh-eo! Silh-eo! Iyada! Iyada! Iyada! No! No! No! No way! Let's do it again!"* he whined in Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and then English.

I left for the afternoon and came back around evening. I saw some people shouting and decided to take a peek. Andrew was there with some guys, and it looked like they were betting. I stood there for a few minutes until he stood up.

*"I'm not betting again,"* he said.

They shook hands. *"You've got a good hand, bro,"* the guys replied.

He leaped for joy. *"It's 140 bloody euros!"* he said.

I caught his attention, and he gave me a weird smile.

*"You're done spending your 200 euros? Guess what? I've got 140!"* he laughed triumphantly.

*"Ouch,"* I said, clutching my head.

*"What's wrong?"* he asked, running to my side.

*"I'm having a slight headache."*

*"Really? Let me take you to the hospital."*

*"No, just give me 100 euros. I'll get some drugs from the pharmacist down the street."*

He panicked and handed me a 100-euro bill.

*"This is it,"* he said.

*"Thank you, Andrew. You're the best,"* I said.

*"No problem,"* he replied.

*"Just kidding!"* I stuck out my tongue.

*"Eee…"* He spaced out, realizing he'd been duped. He walked away slowly, looking disappointed. I couldn't control my laughter, pointing at him.

A high-pitched sound buzzed in my ears, and I lost my balance for a moment. He came to my rescue.

*"Calm down,"* he said.

*"I thought you weren't going to take me seriously because of the joke,"* I whined in a low voice.

*"Get on my back,"* he said.

*"No, it's embarrassing,"* I replied.

*"Do you have the energy to walk?"*

*"Well, looks like I have no choice,"* I said, climbing onto his back.

*"Damn, you've got weight for your skinny body,"* he complained.

*"Who's skinny?"* I punched his back lightly.

I was starting to fall asleep. I hadn't realized he had such broad shoulders. He paused.

*"That looks like an evangelist,"* he said.

*"Do you want to smoke that badly? You can take the cash,"* I told him.

*"I'm not interested anymore. I've suffered too much. And by the way, I already took the 100 euros from you the moment you fell,"* he said.

*"F*** you. Can't you just be romantic for once?"* I punched him harder.

*"You even reek of sweat,"* I added.

*"Thanks for the compliment,"* he said.

I finally fell asleep.